Trace-carrier for harness



(No Model.)

J. B. GATHRIGHTF TRACE CARRIER FOR. HARNESS. No. 325,831. Patented Sept. 8, 1885,

N. FUCHS. PhMo-Lithuwipim Washington. DC.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSIAH B. GATHRIGHT, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

TRACE-CARRIER FOR HARNESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,831, dated September 8, 1885.

Application filed June 23, 1885.

This invention relates to an, attachment to harness, called a trace-carrier, for supporting the ends of the traces or other straps when not in use, to prevent them from dragging, the Ds,rings, cockeyes, or other devices at the ends of the traces or straps being placed over the hooks forming part of the trace-carriers. The hooks (for there are generally two) are fastened to a base or frame which is attached to some part of the harness, usually the back-strap.

Heretofore the hooks have been made in various forms, and have been variously placed on the frame or base. These need herebe explained only so far as may be necessary or desirable to make evident the new features of the improved carrier. First. Instead of standing upright on the attaching frame or base and curving inward and then downward,or depending from a ring elevated above the body of the attachingframe and curving inward, the hooks in the improved carrier (which hooks are rigidly fastened to or are in one piece with the frame or base) curve outward from the place where they are fastened to the frame or base, then downward and inward, the point underlying the body of the hook. The D or its equivalent is first passed under the hook, in order that it may be passed over the point,and when inserted it lies flat against the side of the animal, being supported upon the point of the hook. The point being turned under, there is no danger of the reins or other part of the harness accidentally catching in them.

Second. A flat plate or .frame is employed as the base, and instead of having the hooks above this flat plate or frame the-y are attached to its ends and project beyond the same, the points being turned inward. When the carrier is secured to the back-strap, the tracehooks lie one on either side of the strap, the points projecting toward the edges of the same. Third. The trace-carrier is placed, as usual,

(X0 model.)

near the j unction of the hipstraps, back-strap and crupper; but it is not employed as the connector between these straps, as is customary, although not universal. A ring is employed as the connector, and a pad attached to theback-strap fits under the ring. The tracecarrier is'placed under one or both layers of the back-strap and above the pad, and is there secured by a rivet or rivets, by stitching, or by a rivet and stitchiug, the hooks lying one on each side of the back-strap.

Fourth. Instead of making the hook solid to retain it more securely in position 'on the hook when inserted. The skeleton form of the body of the hook not only makes the carrier lighter and cheaper, (less metal being used,) but it also gives a space for the end of the D or cockeye to enter when the trace is dropped and the D or cockeye is turned to a vertical position, and thus assists in retaining the same in place.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the construction and application of a trace-carrier made in accordance with the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan View, and Fig. 2 a crosssection, showing the carrier in position on the back-strap of a harness, and Fig. 3 a plan of the trace carrier detached.

A is the back-strap, B the ring, which serves as a connector between the back-strap and the hip-straps and crupper, (not shown,) and O the pad under the ring.

The flat attaching-plate D, constituting the base or frame of the trace-carrier, terminates at-the ends in the hooks E, which project beyond said plate and are rigidly fastened to or in one piece with the same.

Usually the whole carrier is cast in one piece. The hooks are curved outward at 1, then downward at 2, and inward at 3. The inwardly-turned points 3 therefore underlie the outwardly-proj ecting portion or overlying body 1. The point 3 is made narrow, the body 1 broad. The latter is formed of two bars separated from each other,but connected at the ends, as shown in Fig. 1. The end of the back-strap A is bent around the ring B. The plate D of the trace'carrier is placed between the two layers. The rivet 4 is passed through the pad, the back-strap, and the attaching-plate. (See Fig. 2.) The same parts are also fastened together by two rows of stitching.

It will be noticed that some of the stitches pass through the holes 5 near the ends of the attaching plate. To place the D, ring, or cockeye on the hook it is pushed under between the hook-point and the pad until the point can enter the opening, and then the D is passed on to the hook.

Modifications can be made in details with out departing from the spirit of the invention, and parts of the invention may be used sepa rately.

It is to be observed that the improved trace- 1 carrier is neat, projects but little above the harness, is not liable to catch the reins or tail of the horse, is cheaply and easily made, and can be used with all kinds of rings,-Ds, or cockeyes.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is 1. As an improved manufacture, the tracecarrier, composed of the base-plate and the hooks rigidly fastened to or in one piece with said plate, said hooks curving outward from opposite ends of said plate, and having each a narrow point underlying the wider open body of the hooks, substantially as described.

2. The trace carrier composed of the baseplate and the hooks rigidly fastened to or in one piece with said plate, said hooks curving outward from opposite ends of said plate, and having each a narrow point underlying the wider open body of the hook, in combination with the pad and back-strap, the base-plate of said carrier being fastened crosswise of and under said strap, between it and the pad, and the hooks lying on either side of said strap, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSIAH B. G'ATHRIGHT.

Witnesses:

JOHN J. HARBISON, WALTER WALKER. 

